Where is the love?

I'm going to go ahead and share a throwback to the early 2000s, when a top hit song released, 'Where is the love' by the Black Eyed Peas.

If you have not heard this song, give it a listen. It's good.

Even more, what an eerily, on point reminder of what's going on in current times.

"People killin' people dyin'

Children hurtin', I hear them crying'

Can you practice what you preachin'?

Would you turn the other cheek again?

Mama, mama, mama, tell us what the hell is goin' on

Can't we all just get along?

Father, father, father help us

Send some guidance from above

'cause people got me, got me,

Questioning (Where is the Love).

Where is the love in all this furry, frustration, animosity, confusion, hatred, heartache and destruction? A simple, yet so complex, overly used but underappreciated, four-letter word has no place in negative verbiage stated above. It has no place even in between the lines where love becomes suffocated and overlooked. All in all, this is a pressing and in some cases, convicting subject.

"Every time I look up, every time I look down

No one's on common ground." - song lyrics

Although love is a complex word, what I do know is that "love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, always perseveres. Love never fails."

~1 Corinthians 13:4-8

"love is the key

Love is the answer

love is the solution..."

~song lyrics

But when millions of us are asking, where is the love, there is an obvious, yet contradicting disconnect. The same question is being asked, yet so much division?

Too many things are happening out of our control, what often feels like the world crumbling all around us at speeds to quick to count. Our fingers on not on the pulse; it's simply too much.

So in all of us this, you're probably asking yourself, what am I supposed to do with this question?

"I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders

As I'm getting older Y'all people gets colder..."

Maybe you're thinking, 'I am just ONE person. I am one person who is feeling the weight.

I'm not going to be heard, what can I possibly do?'

From my heart to yours, yes, you are just ONE person, but there is ONE answer to this and ONE thing you can do.

Be the light!

Shine your light!

Shine YOUR light; that beautiful, unique, God-given imprinted light that only you, one person, can do in such a big, currently frustrated, filled with millions unable to agree to disagree, world.

Before I share these few encouraging ways to shine your light, understand that I am no expert. From a place of transparency, I too am one person who has questioned, seen, heard, and hurt over the question: where is the love. On a daily basis, I am preaching, reminding, and soaking in these five things.

In sharing, my hope is that this helps another person - even if just one.

This is one of the ways I am shining my light.

Sharing your light:

1. Be Kind

You might have seen the quote floating around: "be kind to others, you don't know the battle they are fighting." Yes, this is true, but dig a little deeper. Be kind to those fighting, disagreeing, and loathing those battles, then to turn and take them out on YOU. That's a whole different subject, isn't it? No matter what, be kind. Be the best version of you in all the battles and projected hate taking place. Share a kind word, a kind quote, a kind gesture, a kind smile. Sometimes not saying anything at all, in certain situations, is being the kind, better person.

2. Be the example

We learn this at such a young age, but what if we really implemented this into our everyday life. Many times we have been treated poorly, but have turned around and done the same exact thing to someone else. Stop. How does it feel to be treated that way? More importantly, how do you feel after you've exerted the same negativity onto another? I'm guessing not very good. I have a very big, loving God that teaches me love and grace above all else, but I too, fail often. Learning to shine your light, your love, and putting it to good works could be the very essence, the exact answer, of what's missing in this world.

3. Cast understanding

You're not the only one with a perspective. We've all got them! This is where the 'agree to disagree' settles in. We all have different perspectives, different understandings, and different experiences that make us feel a certain way. Just because you feel one way does not discredit what the other person feels. Cast understanding, be the example and be kind. Show others what real love is all about.

4. Free yourself

It is worth it? Ask yourself right now: is the conversation, situation, or event bringing more, unnecessary stress in your life? If you answered yes, then let it go! If it brings unwelcomed negativity in your life, it's obviously not going to bring positive. We hear, 'what doesn't challenge you won't change you', but please make sure that challenge isn't changing you into the worst version of yourself. Free yourself, be the better person, and shine your light of victory.

5. Check yourself

Self-reflection is key. If you're not checking your self on a daily basis, purging the sides of you that simply must go, then where is the room for new, learned love? We don't just need to purge our rooms, our closets, and our junk. We need to purge what's going on inside too. Make room for the joy, not the junk. Check yourself, fill up with positivity, and pour that onto others. Nine times out of ten you'll feel so much better.

My last tid bit ~ be the game changer and allow your kindness to echo!

Q: Self-reflection: What is one thing, you know, you can be doing better to shine your light?Q: Pause and think: Now what do you need to purge in order to make this happen?

#love #whereisthelove #bethelight #godslove #selfreflection #betheexample #light